Haverfordwest: Freemens Way re-opened following incident

Haverfordwest: Freemens Way re-opened following incident

THERE was heavy congestion heading into Haverfordwest this morning (Oct 17) as Freemens Way in Haverfordwest was closed.

It was closed to deal with a report of a woman who was in distress, with police arriving at 7:20am.

The road was re-opened around 11am.

A spokesperson for the police said: “The incident at Freemans Way, Haverfordwest, has been brought to a safe conclusion. Roads will be re-opened as soon as possible. We thank the public for their patience during this incident.”

The A40 out to Slebech experienced heavy delays, and a crash between Johnston and Haverfordwest also stopped traffic.

Motorists experienced heavy delays and were advised to avoid the area.

A spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police said during the incident: “Dyfed-Powys Police officers are responding to a report of a female in distress at Freemans Way, Haverfordwest.

“They were called to the scene at 7.20am and remain at scene.

“Road closures have been put in place on Freemans Way and Clay Lane resulting in significant traffic delays.”

Roundabout: Traffic has been queuing for a long time (pic. The Herald)

Traffic at a standstill: Merlins Bridge roundabout (pic. The Herald)

College students: A group left their bus and walked the rest of the way

Traffic: Gridlocked entering Haverfordwest from Johnston

Congestion: Traffic in Haverfordwest

Lucy Cawley said on Facebook: “Unless you have to I wouldn’t even try to get to Haverfordwest. It’s completely blocked in all directions. Been stuck at top of Dredgman’s Hill and not moved for over 45 mins.”

4.4 magnitude earthquake felt across Wales

AN earthquake of 4.4 magnitude has been felt across Wales and England this afternoon (Feb 17).

There are numerous reports of the earthquake being felt across west Wales, including Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion.

The earthquake originated near Swansea, where it is was felt strongest, at around 2:30pm.

However, the earthquake was felt across Wales, and many parts of England.

The EMSC, an independent monitor of earthquakes, said: “Latest update of the effects of the #earthquake in #Swansea region. Was felt up to 300 km from epicentre.”

Dyfed-Powys Police received many reports about the incident, but said that there was no need for concern, and that they felt it themselves in their control room.

The police force said: “We are receiving an extremely high call volume reporting some sort of earth tremor in the area – we are receiving reports from across the whole of Wales (we felt it in our control room too!). For now – it is unexplained – but there is nothing to worry about.”

Haverfordwest: Man who died in collision with lorry named

A 43-YEAR-OLD man has died following a collision between two vehicles on one of the busiest roads in Haverfordwest yesterday evening (Feb 15).

The crash, involving a milk tanker and a blue scooter, sadly resulted in the death of the scooter driver. He has been named by Dyfed-Powys Police as Mark Waite from Pembroke Dock

Senior Investigating Officer PC Rob Muckle, of Dyfed-Powys Police, said: “We are appealing for witnesses following a fatal road traffic collision between a milk tanker and a motorcycle – a blue scooter – in the centre of Haverfordwest.

“The collision happened at Salutation Square at approximately 4.30pm yesterday (Thursday, 15 February). Sadly, the 43-year-old motorcyclist died at the scene. His next of kin has been informed; our thoughts are with the family at this difficult time.

“We know both vehicles had been travelling in to Haverfordwest town from the direction of Scotchwell roundabout.

“Anyone who was travelling along this road around the time, or saw the collision, is asked to contact Pembrokeshire Roads Policing Unit by calling 101, quoting reference 228.”

Following the accident, the A4076 Freemen’s Way was closed to all vehicles, and there was subsequent congestion on the nearby A40 and A487 roads into the evening.

The incident happened shortly after 4:30pm and the road was closed for several hours as Dyfed-Powys Police officers investigated the scene.

The Welsh Ambulance Service told The Herald: “We were called at approximately 4.40pm to reports of a road traffic accident where a lorry had collided with a moped.

“We sent one emergency ambulance and one advanced paramedic practitioner to the scene. We left the scene at approximately 7.15pm.”

The crash resulted in a lot of congestion in and around Haverfordwest as rush hour traffic slowed.

Man jailed after failing to pay £208k fine for illegal scrap yard

A MAN has been jailed after failing to pay a fine of £208,000 for running an illegal scrap metal business in Carew.

On May 24, 2017, the court made a confiscation order under the Proceeds of Crime Act ordering George Jones to pay a sum of £208,000.

To date, no payments have been made under this order, so yesterday (Feb 15) George Jones was taken back into court for a PoCA enforcement hearing.

On the basis of this, the magistrates issued a warrant of commitment and Jones was taken into custody to serve the default sentence of 30 months.

Between June 2011 and May 2012 an investigation was carried out into the running of an illegal scrap metal business and the illegal storage of scrap metal and other waste materials on three different plots of land at Carew Airfield, Pembrokeshire.

The three sites in question are known as the Northern Yard, The Workshop Area and the Scrapyard Area.

Danger to water-source: Waste could have polluted drinking water

The defendants involved in the case were:

George Jones – the legal tenant for all three plots of land since the late 1990s, although he held no environmental permit or exemptions for the period of the investigation.

Enviroventure Ltd – occupier of the Scrapyard area since its incorporation in 2002 and holders of an ELV (End of Life Vehicles) Environmental Permit for part of the scrap yard area. They also had numerous exemptions registered at the Workshop Area and the Scrapyard area. They were occupiers of the land until liquidated in December 2011.

Nenning Jones – the sole Director for Enviroventure Ltd (and son of George Jones) Said to have been in charge of operations at the Scrapyard and Northern Yard between June 1, 2011 and December, 22 2011 when the company was liquidated.

Jennifer May Frearson – sole director of GJF Recycling Ltd (partner of George Jones). The company was incorporated on August 25, 2011 and received money for scrap metal since September 2011 for the sale of scrap metal arising from the Scrapyard area in Carew. There were no environmental permits in her name or that of GJF Recycling Ltd, exemptions were registered in the name of GJF Recycling Ltd for the Scrapyard area and Workshop area in February 2012, however these exemptions were not complied with.

All admitted or were found guilty after a trial of operating a scrap metal facility without a permit, duty of care offences and failing to keep adequate records.

Environment Agency Officers carried out site visits between May and October 2011 and found numerous breaches of the ELV permit held for the Scrapyard area.

This involved the depollution of vehicles on site which did not have the required infrastructure to do so; inappropriate storage of batteries; drainage issues; areas of the site where bunding and concrete was not being maintained.

Waste materials such as tyres, waste vehicles and oil drums were also observed being stored outside of the permitted area. Numerous oil spillages were also observed on site.

Waste tyres, scrap metal and general skip waste were also stored at the Workshop and Northern Yard areas without an environmental permit and outside the terms and conditions of any registered exemptions.

Approximately £660,000 was paid in cash to Enviroventure Ltd for sale of scrap metal originating from the Scrapyard for the period when they did not hold an environmental permit or exemption to operate a general scrapyard from the site and for the sale of scrap vehicles when they were not compliant with their ELV permit.

A total of 20 charges were brought against Enviroventure Ltd and Nenning Jones combined for offences relating to operating outside the terms of an environmental permit and also operating and knowingly causing / permitting the operation of a regulated facility without the benefit of an environmental permit between 1 June, 2011 and December 31, 2011.

Following the original court case, Martyn Evans, NRW’s Head of Operations South West Wales, said: “We hope the outcome of this case will send out a positive message to the waste industry, that Natural Resources Wales supports legitimate business and will not tolerate those who seek to profit by breaking the law, risking harm to local communities or damaging the environment.

“The motivation behind the crime was financial. The site did not have the necessary permissions and consequently the infrastructure to protect the environment and it undercut legitimate permitted sites.

“Disposing of waste illegally can harm the environment and undermines businesses that invest in the required measures.

“It is essential that we take action in such cases to protect people and the environment, as well as safeguarding the market place for those operators who do comply with the law.”